What is DevSecOps?

DevOps vs. DevSecOps

DevOps streamlines collaboration between development and operations to speed up software delivery. DevSecOps builds on that foundation by embedding security practices directly into the development lifecycle—starting from planning through to deployment. Instead of treating security as a final step, DevSecOps ensures vulnerabilities are identified and addressed early, reducing risk, cost, and delays while maintaining the pace of innovation.

While DevOps can mean different things to different people or organizations, it involves both cultural and technical changes, with security being an implied requirement for success. DevOps vs. DevSecOps, then, is not a matter of opposition but evolution—DevSecOps extends the DevOps mindset by making security an integrated and essential part of the process.

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Why is DevSecOps important?

DevSecOps is important because it enables organizations to deliver software faster without increasing security risk. By integrating Development, Security, and Operations, security is built into every stage of the software delivery lifecycle, allowing teams to identify and fix vulnerabilities earlier. This reduces costly rework, supports continuous compliance, and ensures security keeps pace with modern, high-velocity development.

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What are the benefits of DevSecOps?

Developers don’t always code with security in mind.

DevSecOps integrates security directly into the software delivery lifecycle (SDLC), enabling teams to release software faster without increasing risk. By embedding automated security checks into CI/CD pipelines, organizations reduce vulnerabilities early, limit exposure to breaches, and improve overall software quality.

Faster, more secure software delivery
With DevSecOps, security testing happens as code is written—not after the fact. Developers can identify and fix security issues earlier through automated scans triggered during code check-ins, builds, and releases. This shift-left approach reduces rework, shortens release cycles, reduces breaches, and prevents vulnerable code from reaching production. Teams that implement DevSecOps tools and processes to integrate security into their DevOps framework will be able to release secure software faster.

Reduced risk from human error and insider threats
Security incidents aren’t always malicious—many stem from simple mistakes or social engineering attacks. DevSecOps combines automation with behavioral analytics to help teams detect unusual activity, address insider risk sooner, and respond more effectively without slowing development.

Better security with less friction for developers
By integrating security tools directly into the environments developers already use, DevSecOps improves adoption without disrupting workflows. Developers gain greater visibility into security risks, build stronger security awareness, and deliver more resilient applications—without becoming security experts overnight.

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What are DevSecOps challenges?

While DevSecOps helps organizations deliver software faster and more securely, implementing it is not without challenges. Many teams struggle to balance speed, security, and compliance—especially at enterprise scale.

Security slowing down delivery
One of the most common challenges is the perception that security adds friction. Manual reviews, late-stage testing, and disconnected tools can slow releases and frustrate development teams. When security is introduced too late in the lifecycle, it often becomes a bottleneck rather than an enabler.

Tool sprawl and lack of integration
DevSecOps relies on multiple tools across development, security, and operations. Without strong integration, teams face tool sprawl, duplicated effort, and inconsistent visibility. Security tools that don’t integrate into CI/CD pipelines or developer workflows are less likely to be adopted and more likely to be ignored.

Limited visibility across the software supply chain
Modern applications span custom code, open source components, APIs, and cloud infrastructure. Many organizations lack a complete view of their application and API inventory, making it difficult to identify vulnerabilities, manage dependencies, or understand risk across the software supply chain.

Skills gaps and cultural resistance
DevSecOps requires developers, security teams, and operations to share responsibility for security. Skills gaps, unclear ownership, and resistance to change can slow adoption. Without proper training and security champions, teams may struggle to embed security practices into daily development work.

Managing compliance without sacrificing speed
Regulated industries face added complexity. Meeting requirements for frameworks such as GDPR, CCPA, PCI, or industry-specific standards often involves manual evidence collection and audits. Without automation, compliance efforts can conflict with the goals of continuous delivery.

Scaling security across teams and environments
As organizations grow, applying consistent security controls across multiple teams, pipelines, and environments becomes increasingly difficult. Legacy applications, hybrid cloud architectures, and decentralized development models add further complexity to scaling DevSecOps effectively.

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What are the key components of DevSecOps?

DevSecOps approaches may include these important components:

Application/API inventory
Security starts with knowing what you have. DevSecOps relies on automated discovery, profiling, and continuous monitoring of applications and APIs across the entire portfolio—including data centers, virtual environments, private and public clouds, containers, and serverless architectures. Automated discovery tools identify applications and APIs, while self-inventory tools enable applications to report metadata to a centralized system for visibility and governance.

Custom code security
Custom application code must be continuously assessed for vulnerabilities throughout development, testing, and operations. Frequent code delivery allows teams to identify and remediate issues early, reducing risk with every update.

• Static Application Security Testing (SAST) scans the application source files, accurately identifies the root cause, and helps remediate the underlying security flaws.
• Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) simulates controlled attacks on a running web application or service to identify exploitable vulnerabilities in a running environment.
• Interactive Application Security Testing (IAST) provides a deep scan by instrumenting the application using agents and sensors to continuously analyze the application, its infrastructure, dependencies, dataflow, as well as all the code.

Open source security
Modern applications rely heavily on open source software (OSS), which can introduce security and licensing risk. DevSecOps includes tracking OSS libraries, identifying vulnerabilities, and detecting license violations across the software supply chain.

• Software Composition Analysis (SCA) automates the visibility into open source software (OSS) for the purpose of risk management, security, and license compliance across the software supply chain.

Runtime prevention
Security does not stop at deployment. DevSecOps protects applications in production, where new vulnerabilities may emerge or legacy applications may still be in use. Runtime monitoring and managing security logs provide insight into attack vectors and targeted systems, while threat intelligence supports stronger threat modeling and security architecture decisions.

Compliance monitoring
Continuous compliance is a core DevSecOps outcome. Automated monitoring helps organizations maintain audit readiness and enforce security controls for regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, and PCI—without slowing delivery teams.

Cultural and organizational practices
DevSecOps is as much cultural as it is technical. Successful programs establish security champions, provide ongoing developer training, and encourage shared responsibility for security across development, operations, and security teams.

Insider threat mitigation
Protecting source code and sensitive data requires visibility into insider activity. Continuous monitoring helps organizations detect unintentional mistakes or malicious behavior early—before damage is done.

AI cybersecurity
AI enhances DevSecOps by automating threat detection and accelerating response. AI-powered insights help teams identify risks sooner, prioritize remediation, and make smarter security decisions at enterprise scale.

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What are DevSecOps tools?

DevSecOps tools are technologies that embed security into Development, Security, and Operations workflows across the software delivery lifecycle. They automate security testing, vulnerability detection, and compliance checks within CI/CD pipelines, allowing teams to identify and address risks early without slowing development.

Common DevSecOps tools include:

• Application security testing tools, such as SAST, DAST, and IAST, are used to identify vulnerabilities in code and running applications.
• Software composition analysis (SCA) to manage open source security and license risk.
• Secrets and access management to protect credentials and sensitive data.
• Runtime protection and monitoring to detect threats in production environments.
• Compliance and policy enforcement tools to support continuous audit readiness.
• Security analytics and reporting to improve visibility and risk prioritization.

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How does DevSecOps integrate security into CI/CD pipelines?

DevSecOps automation uses automation to embed security into CI/CD pipelines through various DevSecOps tools:

• Static Application Security Testing (SAST) for code analysis.
• Software Composition Analysis (SCA) for dependency management.
• Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) for runtime vulnerability detection.
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC) scanning to secure cloud deployments.
• Container security tools to ensure image integrity before deployment.

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How does DevSecOps improve compliance and governance?

DevSecOps integrates security policies, audit trails, and compliance checks directly into the development process, ensuring continuous adherence to standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001.

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What role does automation play in DevSecOps?

Automation is a core principle of DevSecOps. Security testing, vulnerability scanning, and compliance checks are automated within CI/CD pipelines to ensure quick detection and remediation of issues.

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How can my organization implement DevSecOps?

• Shift security left by integrating it early in the development lifecycle.
• Automate security testing within CI/CD pipelines.
• Train teams on security best practices.
• Use security-as-code to enforce policies automatically.
• Monitor and respond to security threats continuously.
• DevSecOps platform brings all your DevOps, security, and operations data into one information hub with greater visibility, insights, and collaboration.

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Is DevSecOps only for large enterprises?

No, businesses of all sizes can adopt DevSecOps. Small and medium-sized companies can benefit from cloud-based security tools and automation to integrate security into their software development process.

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IT operations and DevSecOps integration

The integration of IT operations into the DevSecOps framework represents a significant evolution in software development and deployment practices. This synergy between development, security, and operations teams is crucial for ensuring a seamless, secure, and efficient software development lifecycle. By incorporating IT operations into the DevSecOps model, organizations can achieve greater agility, enhanced security, and improved overall performance throughout the entire software lifecycle.

The impact of IT operations on DevSecOps is multifaceted and touches upon several key areas of the development and deployment process:

1. Deploy: Automated infrastructure delivery

In the realm of deployment, IT operations plays a pivotal role in automating the delivery of infrastructure necessary to deploy applications. This automation is not just about speed; it's about ensuring that every deployment adheres strictly to company policies and best practices. By automating infrastructure delivery, organizations can achieve consistent and repeatable deployment processes, significantly reducing the risk of human error while simultaneously enhancing security.

This automated approach to deployment brings several benefits. First, it dramatically reduces the time-to-market for new applications and updates, allowing businesses to respond more quickly to market demands and customer needs. Second, it ensures that every deployment, regardless of scale or complexity, adheres to organizational standards and compliance requirements. This consistency is crucial in maintaining a secure and compliant IT environment, especially in industries with strict regulatory oversight.

Moreover, automated infrastructure delivery enables teams to implement infrastructure-as-code practices, where infrastructure configurations are version-controlled, tested, and deployed using the same rigorous processes applied to application code. This approach not only improves reliability but also enhances collaboration between development and operations teams, a key tenet of the DevSecOps philosophy.

2. Operate: Automated maintenance and patching

The 'Operate' phase of IT operations within DevSecOps focuses on maintaining infrastructure through automated patching and updates. This aspect is critical in today's rapidly evolving threat landscape, where new vulnerabilities are discovered regularly, and the window for exploitation is increasingly narrow.

Automated maintenance and patching processes ensure that systems are updated promptly, addressing both security vulnerabilities and performance issues proactively. This automation is essential for several reasons. First, it significantly reduces the time between the discovery of a vulnerability and its remediation, minimizing the exposure window. Second, it ensures consistency across the entire infrastructure, eliminating the risks associated with partial or inconsistent updates.

Furthermore, automated operations reduce the need for manual intervention, which not only saves time but also minimizes the risk of human error – a common source of security breaches and system instabilities. By automating routine maintenance tasks, IT teams can focus on more strategic initiatives, driving innovation and improving overall system architecture.

This approach to operations also supports the principle of continuous improvement in DevSecOps. With automated systems constantly monitoring and updating the infrastructure, teams can maintain a state of ongoing optimization, ensuring that systems are not just secure, but also performing at their best.

3. Monitor: Production observability

Effective monitoring and observability of applications in production environments are crucial components of a successful DevSecOps strategy. This phase goes beyond simple uptime monitoring; it involves comprehensive insights into application performance, user experience, and potential security issues in real-time.

Implementing robust monitoring and observability practices enables organizations to maintain high levels of reliability and uptime. By continuously collecting and analyzing data from production environments, teams can detect and address issues before they impact users. This proactive approach to problem-solving is essential in maintaining user satisfaction and preventing minor issues from escalating into major incidents.

Moreover, infrastructure observability provides invaluable data for continuous improvement. By analyzing patterns in application performance, user behavior, and system interactions, teams can identify opportunities for optimization and enhancement. This data-driven approach to development ensures that future iterations of the application are not just feature-rich, but also more stable, secure, and performant.

Advanced network monitoring tools can also play a crucial role in security. By implementing anomaly detection and behavior analysis, organizations can quickly identify potential security threats or unusual activities that might indicate a breach attempt. This integration of security monitoring into the overall observability strategy exemplifies the holistic approach of DevSecOps, providing integrated production observability with pre-production testing.

4. Plan: Continuous feedback loop

The planning phase in IT operations closes the DevSecOps loop by providing critical feedback into the development process. This feedback mechanism is essential for driving continuous improvement and ensuring that development efforts are aligned with operational realities and business objectives.

By analyzing data gathered from production environments, IT operations can drive enhancement requests based on real-world performance data. This ensures that development priorities are set based on actual user needs and system performance, rather than assumptions or outdated requirements.

The concept of error budgeting is another crucial aspect of this planning phase. By setting acceptable thresholds for errors and performance issues, teams can balance the need for rapid innovation with the requirement for system stability. This approach allows organizations to make informed decisions about when to push for new features and when to focus on system reliability and performance improvements.

Performance improvement initiatives are also driven by this continuous feedback loop. By identifying bottlenecks, inefficiencies, or areas of high resource utilization in production, IT operations can provide developers with concrete targets for optimization. This data-driven approach to performance tuning ensures that efforts are focused where they will have the most significant impact with real-world production feedback.

Furthermore, the planning phase allows for the alignment of development priorities with operational realities. By providing insights into the challenges and constraints of running applications in production, IT operations helps ensure that new features and updates are designed with operability and maintainability in mind from the outset.

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How to make DevSecOps work for you

Step 1: Build security into software requirements
Step 2: Test early, often and fast
Step 3: Leverage integrations to make application security a natural part of the lifecycle
Step 4: Automate security as part of the development and testing processes
Step 5: Monitor and protect during and after release

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Integrated DevSecOps platform

OpenText’s DevOps platform delivers end-to-end DevSecOps capabilities. A DevSecOps platform provides a unified, flexible way to integrate security into your DevOps pipeline so you can release high quality software at the speed of business. This cloud-based platform works with your development tools to improve production efficiency, maximize quality delivery, ensure security, and align business goals with development resources.

• OpenText™ Core Software Delivery Platform seamlessly integrates security into every stage, boosting collaboration and supercharging efficiency.
• Harness AI to transform data into actionable insights, propelling smarter decision-making.
• Predict and prepare for security risks by identifying vulnerabilities early.
• Streamline security processes to innovate faster and proactively tackle threats.
• Liberate developers from manual security checks, empowering them to focus on breakthrough innovations.
• Manage threats and boost your threat response capabilities with real-time security insights from OpenText™ Core Application Security (Fortify).
• Integrate security into your CI/CD pipeline and leverage AI for an optimized workflow.
• Go to market faster with secure, compliant software that syncs perfectly with your goals, fueling innovation and efficiency with OpenText™ Core Software Delivery Platform + OpenText Core Application Security (Fortify).